But in his veto memo, Cuomo noted that the DEC has already taken into account the heavy public outcry the original draft plan engendered.

In February, the DEC said it would revise the draft plan and release it for a second period of public comment, and that it would be "committed" to considering non-lethal means to achieve the plan's goals.

"This bill, therefore, is not needed," Cuomo wrote in his message.

A lawyer representing the local group that pushed for the moratorium said the group disagrees with Cuomo's reasoning that the bill was unnecessary.

"Our concern arises from our perception that the changes in the program being made by the (DEC) will focus on the killing methodology and will not address the larger issue of the lack of a sufficient scientific basis justifying the need for the program," said John Lyons of Rhinebeck.